Hurtigruten has decided to buy all remaining shares of the shipyard where their two expedition-style ships are under construction.
Together with other investors, Hurtigruten already jumped to the rescue of the yard at the end of last year.
Now Hurtigruten-owned company KVE Holding AS takes over 100% of the shares in Kleven Verft AS, Kleven Maritime Contracting AS and Kleven Maritime Technology AS.
Photo: Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten has signed a Letter of Intent with Rolls-Royce for a major environmental upgrade programme to hybrid power. The main engines on up to nine ships will switch from diesel to LNG and the upgrade will also include installation of a hybrid battery system.
Hurtigruten was recently awarded licenses by the Norwegian Government for seven out of 11 coastal ferry routes. One of the key requirements from the Government of the route’s operator was a reduction in CO2-emissions. With its plans for a major upgrade, Hurtigruten will be able to continue operating its existing fleet on the route and at the same time meet these new stricter environmental demands.
Photo: Mike Louagie
The Norwegian contract for the operation of the Bergen – Kirkeness coastal service has been announced. Hurtigruten will have to share it with Havila.
Eleven ships are needed for the eleven-day Bergen – Kirkeness – Bergen service. Hurtigruten will get 4+3 slots, and Havila 4.
No longer having a monopoly could be a good thing. For Hurtigruten it means they will be able to sail four ships in a more cruise-like concept. They will be able to drop the uninteresting ports of call, which they had to call at by virtue of their contract. It will allow for more and better excursions. It is a logic continuation of what Hurtigruten already started to change the last couple of years, with more focus on destination-driven activities and excursions.
For the customer the competition will probably mean lower prices.
For the environment it will be beneficial too, due to stricter requirements, with a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions. Therefore Hurtigruten will have to adapt some of the older ships.
Shipowner Per Sævik (Havila Holding AS) will now have to order four newbuildings for the subsidiary Havila Kystruten AS.
The new configuration starts on 1 January 2021.
Hurtigruten AS is owned by Silk Bidco AS, whose main shareholder is the London-based investment company TDR Capital.
Rendering: Havila Kystruten
Although this vessel is an expedition cruise ship rather than a coastal Hurtigruten unit, it is worth mentioning. Indeed, ROALD AMUNDSEN touched water for the first time during a launching ceremony at the Kleven Yard in Ulsteinvik, Norway.
The successful launching marks an important milestone in the construction of the world’s first hybrid powered expedition ship that will be fitted with large battery packs.
From the bay outside the yard, guests and crew on LOFOTEN, built in 1964 and Hurtigruten’s oldest vessel, greeted the newest addition to the fleet.
Photos : Oclin – Hurtigruten
Hurtigruten’s two newbuildings ROALD AMUNDSEN and FRIDTJOF NANSEN, built as expedition ships for the polar regions, will also sail along the Norwegian Coast in 2019. The expedition ships will come in addition to Hurtigruten’s 11 ships on Bergen – Kirkeness, and will also visit places not done by the conventional ships. The two hybrid expedition ships are under construction at Kleven, and the first is expected in the summer of next year.
Photo: Hurtigruten
Since 2002 coastal express vessel RICHARD WITH was chartered from a local community-owned company. Recently Hurtigruten signed an agreement to buy the ship through its wholly owned subsidiary Coastal 1 AS.
In 2018 the vessel will get a major refurbishment, with all cabins and public areas being upgraded. More –profitable– suites will be added.
Photo: Hurtigruten
Norway’s new National Transport Plan (NTP) for the period 2018-2029 has been presented. Over the next 12 years Norway will spend almost NOK 1 billion on transport.
Some highlights:
Kristiansand and Trondheim. It will replace no less than eight ferry connections. The first goal is to bring Bergen and Stavanger closer to each other.
Photo: Stad Ship Tunnel © Norwegian Coastal Administration
Probably it is not a surprise: Hurtigruten has decided to tender for the coastal express service on the Norwegian Coast. Recently the Norwegian State produced an official invitation to bid for the new coastal service agreement, which has been divided in three segments. The actual contract with Hurtigruten expires in 2020/21
Several companies are believed to have shown interest.
The deadline for submitting tenders is 3 January 2018.
Next year Hurtigruten celebrates its 125th birthday, which means they have built up an amazing, unrivaled knowledge. And of course, so far they are the only company with 11 dedicated ships (with side loading ramps).
On a press conference CEO Daniel Skjeldam said Hurtigruten was going to bid for the entire package. “Nobody knows the Norwegian coast like us,” he said. He also added that even without the renewed agreement Hurtigruten would continue to operate cruises along the coast, in a different way though. Some ports which are part of the actual ‘lifeline’ contract would be dropped and locals would no longer be able to use the ships as public transport. In this case Hurtigruten could stay longer in marquee ports and offer more and different excursions.
Who will it be? We’ll know probably end of March 2018.
After having leased the two ships, Hurtigruten AS has reacquired the vessels through a bond loan with a term of three years. Purchaser is Coastal Holding, a subsidiary of Silk Topco, a UK pension fund which also owns Hurtigruten.
Both vessels were built at the Volkswerft in Stralsund, in 1993 and 1994.
Source: Maritimt Magasin – Photo © Robert Cranna / Hurtigruten
As from 2021, three companies instead of the actual one company –Hurtigruten–could share the coastal route between Bergen and Kirkeness. According to the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, between five and ten shipping companies have reported their interest in applying for the tender, or for parts of it.
The possible changes create a lot of buzz in the local media. One of the arising questions is about the ownership of the name Hurtigruten. It is very understandable that the actual company Hurtigruten does not want to see other operators working under the same banner. But legal experts say Hurtigruten cannot claim any trademark protection.
Source: NRK – Photo © Mike Louagie